Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-06-16

II
Uase-The Ashcnean societg ~ An.
adversary.
Special Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal
NEWARK, June 15.-Newark has seldom
been 30 thoroughly stirred as II was yes
terday, when the board Of trustees of
Delaware College were In session decid-
Ing the future fate Of that institution.
Upon the arrival of the early trains this
morning the board and yerdant campus,
presented IN unusual sight. IL was
abandoned by the students to higher
and nobler purpose of the trustees, i. O.,
lobbying, private conferences, land whis-
peringa, DO.
The recent ventilation In the papers of
a lack OF harmony in the faculty had in
suaed a full attendance, but even the
friends of the college were surprised 10
see 26 members present out Of q total of
80. Tho following are those present
DR.. L. p. Bush, DR.. Z. Elton Buck, Will
mington; DIR. N. II. Clark, DR.. Fl. q. M.
Kollook, 3. M. Curtis, George 8. Evans,
David j. Murphy, Newark; Governor
b. 4. Biggs, John A. Reynolds, Middle
town; Judge j. w. Houston, Manloye
Hayes, John A. Nicholson, Congressman.
elect j. B. Pennington, Dover William
II. Purnell, formerly president of Della
ware College, and Editor OruikBhank,
Maryland; W. ]. Ferris, New Castle
Ex-Governor o. O. Stockley, Edwin r.
Paynter, Georgetown; John r. Salisbury,
Dover; DR.. Hugh Martin, Seaford Or.
David L. Mustard, Lewes; Peter q.
Oausey, Milford DR.. Peter d. Keyser,
Philadelphia; John O. Stockley, Smyrna
DIR. Bush, president of the board, was
reelected, aa were the other committees.
The annual report of President Caldwell
presented several innovations In the
work. srof the college. The first was o
xetrograde Recommendation for the return
Of the system Of coeducation. The
second was merely the transparent sug-
Rsstion of the president, that the salary
Of the professor OF chemistry and OK
oificio State chemist be lowered and the
remaining portion be turned into the gem
eral fund. Both were Immediately and
hopelessly killed.
In the afternoon session which met at
2 O'clock President Caldwell arose with a
voluminous invectiye delivered against
the faculty. The report finally became
80 personal and violent as to preclude its
continuation in the board. Il was then
finally decided to put the whole matter
In the hands Of the following members
who are to constitute o reorganization
committee Messrs. Bush, Curtis, Evans,
Biggs, Buck, Nicholson, Pennington,
Stockley, Martin, Mustard and j. O.
atookley.
This committee ia empowered and d.
rected to request the resignation of Presi-
dent Caldwell and every member OF the
faculty. A limited selection OF the desir-
able men from the present faculty will
be made and the unfulflled professor
ships will be supplied with new and CON-
petent men. There Is general satisfac-
tion In town with the result Of the meet
ing, and the students and alumni see q
now era of prosperity dawning upon the
venerable institution Of learning.
President Caldwell's statement, part OF
which was read at the meeting, is given
below:
At the adjourned meeting OF the board oil
trustees, on the 9th OF April, a resolution
was adopted urging on all the members OIL
this faculty the duty OF working harmonl.
ously for the good OF the college. In all
good conscience before God and man have
underworld TO conform to that requirement
Yet the faculty have not been united mol
.
when It 10 my solemn duty to disclose Il
you the real cause Of this lack OF harmony
Now II any OF you have come here with
your minds made up and purpose fixed fol
listening to one-sided statements, such as
know have been made to some Of you, all
ask is that you hear with Justice and i'm
Partially my relation OF the circumstances
on which my SOLEMN convictions are based
There has been but one principal source o.
oil the trouble have had in this college
since I took charge OF It. That source Il
the courDe pursued by one man and he {
member OF the faculty. That man is DR.
Wolf. But for him should not have hae
any trouble with any other professor.
All the discord that has existed here had
Its beginning Just before and during oul
commencement last year, and 1t has grown
with increasing intensity ever since.
youth who was an irregular member o
the junior class, and has bad record b 3re
as our minutes show, made verbal reques'
OF me for the use of the college oratory foi
Commencement Ball." refused 1t fol
good and sufficient reasons, but In a day OF
two, not satisfied with my reasons, he made
n written application and requested
written answer, thus lntimating his pur.
pose TO have me on the record. gratihed
him, and In writing again refused the re-
quest. Soon after this I was visited ~
Professors Wolf and Harter, who brought
another letter from the same boy, repeat
inn the same request. OF course l agatr
refused 1t and with stronger emphasis thar
before. / was annoyed by the bold per
eistsncy Of the boy, and surprised that two
professors should condeseend to boar a mes
sage in writing from one whom tneir oWi
dsmeanor. Their conduct was glarint
disregard 10 my religious scruples, and
eouId discern at the bottom Of 1t a sinister
design, especially on the part OF Wolf. ht
was disappointed, and anger was kindlet
I'm his looks and manner. But even NJ
Iniyer could not induce me TO turn this col
itlege into dance house. From that momen
1 read the man through and through, AM
and took the dimensions OF that subtl,
eraftfness which / have traced through al
his intricate methods from that day 70 this
The day after this interview with the tw
professors / was visited by the tesluen
members OF tho prudential committee, :
which am chairman, who asked me Z
grant the boys request, and said the facuit
would take the whole responsibility. toll
them plainly that In such matter the iai
uity could not take my responsibility, Una
the public would not know them but loo
10 me. blame me and mark my inconsis
eney az a minister OF the gospel and men
Der OF a church whose discipline Is oppose
to balls.
been pressed, urged and harassed on tn
question, notwithstanding my conseientio
soruples which every one OF the paItl
knew very well at the time. Neyertheles
from that time one member OF that con
mittee, who ia wholly under the iniinen,
of DR.. Wolf, has been my most determih,
onnonent and went so far last winter as
All a friend OF mine II Ind received |
anonymous letter asking me to resiRn; ~ n,
wa begin to zee the character OF Or. Wol,
poIiey and the methods by Whlch II must
IA Wal. did my answer to the prudent
committee satisfy DIR. Wolff Not at a
AZ a regular meeting OF the faeulty q e
DAYS later the secretary read announcer ieli
from the same boy, who had alrehuy ~
recognized by members OF the faculty, De,
ing his message TO me, notwlths.snainB
and the faculty insisted on giving it :
dS0nity of a vote. / let them vote una
nrotest. and every one voted for Dali
mai room where we sometimes went
nrav / could now do nothing but av
mvself of that veto power given 70 J
nrealdent of this college In chapter ., 81
Hon OF the bylaws.
This Institution was organized % yes
ago. and during all that time tnere " !. 1
the record OF single Instance, excepI y
one, In which an application 70 nave , aai
ing In the college buiialng mns o'eI "
eeiyed or granted by the facuity.
sbonId It be 80 often urged IN my case
1,aS tha dilemma which Or. Wolf made
ma must either veto their resolution
,rove false TO my convictions OF right, .
pnen this college for practices when We,
baave blasted its reputation and insultee
moral sense Of the Christian people Oh
State. ...,,,ht bava Of,
...A